India's encephalitis death toll rises to 110
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-20 19:10

The death toll in an encephalitis outbreak in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 110 on Saturday with 20 more deaths reported in the past 36 hours, a health official said, reported Reuters.

Most of the dead were children and more than 170 people were in hospital, many of them in critical condition.

"Encephalitis is a perennial problem during the rainy season, but the situation appears to be quite alarming this time," said K.P. Kushwaha, a health official in Gorakhpur town, worst hit by the outbreak.

Encephalitis, an acute form of brain fever, is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes and proliferates in water-logged parts of India during the monsoon season.

Last year, about 50 people died of the disease in Uttar Pradesh.

India has suffered serious flooding during this year's monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

In Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, and adjacent areas, 210 people have died of diseases such as leptospirosis, gastroenteritis and malaria after the worst floods in history hit the region three weeks ago.

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